But now these Jaguar workers are hoping to thrill the nation - well, their colleagues anyway - with the latest in reality entertainment.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to... 'Tache Idol!

The eight, and any of their colleagues at the engineering site in Abbey Road, Whitley, Coventry, who care to join in, are planning to grow beards and moustaches over the next three weeks to raise cash for the Coventry Myton Hospice Appeal.

After two weeks their workmates will vote for one of four styles to shave into their new face fur.

The idea was the brainchild of crash test analyst Steve Gough.

The 54-year-old dad of two and grandfather of four, of Osbaston Close, Eastern Green, Coventry, said: "I thought it would be a good laugh to do something like this and we can use it to raise money for Myton Hospice.

"I would not like to set a figure on how much we'll raise but it will create a lot of interest.

"I used to have a beard and moustache anyway so am quite comfortable with the idea. We'll finish in three weeks and the girls will judge who is best. We tried to get them to grow their leg hair or try to grow moustaches, but they wouldn't."

Safety strategist and dad-of-two Harish Joshi, 50, of Rosegreen Close, Cheylesmore, who isn't looking forward to the challenge, said: "I've never gone out of the house without having a shave. Facial hair is horrible. It's bad enough my wife growing it!"